ABOUT THE PROJECT
We are Italian Odissi dancers based in Turin, Monte Isola (BS), Concordia Sagittaria (VE) and L’Aquila. Since 2020 we have been collaborating to spread the practice and culture of this wonderful and complex Indian dance. There are very few exponents of this India dance-theatre style in Italy and we believe there should be many more!
We explore the liminal spaces of two cultures, aware of never being fully identified with either one or the other. This is the point of view that unites us and with which we prefer to look at our culture of origin. We question the way in which it generally tends to define us as a gender and to suggest the “correct” code of behavior so as not to fail in work and relationships . We undertake our research by using our bodies educated by Indian and Western performing arts.
We ask for your support to carry out our experimental project within Indian classical dance, Indian martial arts, and our contribution to the debate on gender issues.

SHEDDING WOMANHOOD
Shedding Womanhood will be a performance and an inner journey that five Western women, dancers-actresses, undertake to subvert and reconsider their culture of belonging.
Shedding or "letting go", stripping away the superfluous layers of being to expose the essence, one's conscious body.
The journey, as also suggested by the long narrative - both Western and Eastern - ascetic, religious and secular, unfolds through different stages.
To describe this journey we will use the body, voice and music, guided by the words of poets of European and Indian tradition.
The physical techniques we will explore and use to create Shedding Womanhood belong to Indian scenic forms - classical Odissi dance-theater, traditional Kalaripayattu martial art, yoga - and Western performative languages ​​- body theater, vocal and sound explorations and use of words. Each of these languages ​​will be used as an essential vocabulary in order to create choreographies with a contemporary flavor. Part of the creation work will be carried out in collaboration with Dr. Ileana Citaristi, Odissi dancer and choreographer who has successfully created dance choreographies of social denunciation for years. 
The form of the inner journey towards undressing will also be reflected in the choice of musical compositions and costumes.

WHY SUPPORT US
We are 5 women, Italian dancers and actresses, we live in 4 different Italian cities. In these 4 years together we have faced difficult moments as a group such as the complex process of building an artistic identity, personal losses and illnesses. We gave up pieces, we changed our skin but we never had any doubts about the need to continue our work together. We need your support to realize our ambitious project, because we want to raise awareness of the beauty and resources of Odissi dance, so that this transformative art can touch the hearts of more and more people. To make it happen we will do 3 residencies during the 2024/25 winter season – two in Italy, one in India. In May 2025 there will be the final artist residency of Shedding Womanhood in Italy.
We have estimated that €7000 is sufficient to cover the main costs of the project.

CROWDFUNDING
In order to realise this new dance production, Dance In-It needs your financial support!
Find out more about the crowdfunding campaign on the website produzionidalbasso, where you will also find more information about the specific reward tiers. Besides this, you can also find more information about the project, the cast, the crew and the collaboration with the partners.
Your donation, no matter the amount, will contribute to the success of Shedding Womanhood! Make a different and become a supporter, contribute now!

HOW YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL HELP
With your contribution we will be able to pay:
– 4 round trip flight tickets to Bhubaneswar,
– travel tickets and accommodation and living expenses for the two artist residencies in Italy,
– fabrics and tailoring work for new original costumes,
– remuneration of the artistic cast and the technical team.

If you are not able to help us through a donation at the moment, you can help us in other ways:
– following us on Instagram
– sharing our campaign on social media
– emailing or messaging friends/family and anyone who may be interested in becoming a co-producer of this dance show.

For more information on the rewards, the project and the way in which we will develop the crowdfunding, write to: danceinit@yahoo.com

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT!
Stella, Lucrezia, Cristiana, Antonietta and Francesca